Vitamin E

This information has been reviewed and adapted for use in South Carolina by Janis G. Hunter, HGIC Nutrition Specialist, and Katherine L. Cason, Professor, State Program Leader for Food Safety and Nutrition, Clemson University. (New 07/07.)

Why We Need It

Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin, plays a broad role in promoting health. It primarily serves as an antioxidant that helps protect the body from the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are substances that can damage the body's cells and may increase the risk for heart disease and cancer.

Vitamin E may help prevent oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and plaque buildup in the arteries. It also may help to lower the risk for heart disease and stroke, as well as protect against cell damage that could lead to some types of cancer.

Sources

Vitamin E is abundant in vegetable oils, salad dressings, margarine, and other processed foods made with vegetable oils. If a food is high in unsaturated fats, typically it is a good source of vitamin E, also.

* Vitamin E often is measured as milligrams (mg) of alpha-tocopherol. It also can be measured as International Units (IU).

cereal, fortified, 1 cup

20-40

30-60

sunflower seeds, dry, 1 oz

14

22

almonds, dry roasted, 1 oz

8

11

wheat germ, ¼ cup

3

4

peanut butter, 2 tbsp

3

4

vegetable oil, 1 tbsp

3

4

mango, raw, 1

2

3

mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp

2

3

broccoli, frozen, cooked ½ cup

2

3

turnip greens, frozen, cooked, ½ cup

1

2

In food, vitamin E is found in many forms. Alpha-tocopherol is the most usable form in our bodies.

How to Retain It

High heat destroys vitamin E, so do not heat vegetable oils to high temperatures, as in frying.

If We Don't Get Enough

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, which needs dietary fat to be absorbed in the body. A vitamin E deficiency is very rare, except in premature, very-low-birthweight babies and people who can't absorb fat normally. Cystic fibrosis and some other chronic health problems also may result in a vitamin E deficiency.

People who do not get enough vitamin E may have higher risks for heart disease and cancer. A vitamin E deficiency can affect the nervous system and the eyes. In addition, it can cause "hemolytic" anemia.

If We Get Too Much

There doesn't seem to be a problem with eating plenty of vitamin E-rich foods. However, taking large doses as a supplement may not be beneficial and is not recommended.

Consuming too much vitamin E may make vitamin K's action less complete. It also may increase the effect of anticoagulant medication and the risk of bleeding. When bleeding occurs in the brain, it can cause a hemorrhagic stroke.

Supplements

Foods can supply the recommended amount of vitamin E for good health. Many people choose to take a supplement. However, recent studies do not support use of vitamin E supplements for the prevention of heart disease.

Food and supplement labels give the amount of vitamin E in International Units (IU) of alpha-tocopherol, not in milligrams. The "natural" form of the vitamin found in some supplements is more fully used by the body than the synthetic form in fortified foods and some supplements.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is 800 mg daily for teens ages 14-18 and 1,000 mg for adults ages 19 and over. If you take a supplement, you should not get more than 1,000 mg of alpha-tocopherol per day from supplements. This equals about 1,500 IU of "natural" vitamin E or 1,100 IU of the synthetic form. Higher doses increase the risk of bleeding problems.

Talk with your doctor before deciding to take a supplement. He/she can tell you how much to take and whether it may interact with other drugs or supplements that you take. For example, vitamin E supplements can be harmful if you take blood-thinning drugs like warfarin (Coumadin®) or aspirin.

For More Information

The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) agent at your county Extension office may have more written information and nutrition classes for you to attend. Also, your doctor, health care provider, or a registered dietitian (RD) can provide reliable information.

Reliable nutrition information may be found on the Internet at the following sites:http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/
http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/NIRC/
http://www.eatright.org
http://www.nutrition.gov
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic

This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed.

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